’Vomit on my plate’: Hospital food horror stories revealed

by David Campbell

22nd Aug 2019 10:07 AM
premium_icon
Subscriber only

Hospital food horror stories aren't new but The Daily Telegraph has been flooded with people sharing pictures of their own nightmare meals following outrage over the experience one Sydney mum recently endured.

From Newcastle to Sydney, people have vented about food they described as unrecognisable and, in some cases, inedible.

Jody Heard said she was served up this spinach and cheese slice which tasted “vile”, Picture: Facebook

HealthShare NSW, which looks after patient food, said Eileen's meal was "unacceptable" and would contact her to apologise and investigate the incident. However, Eileen told The Telegraph today, she is still waiting to be contacted.

"We understand how important it is that all patients get the nutrition they need while in hospital, regardless of their dietary requirements," a spokesperson said.

"We are contacting the patient to apologise for this unacceptable standard of meal and get their valuable feedback. We are also investigating how this occurred."

Kelly Ryan submitted a photo of this meal served up at Liverpool Hospital. Picture: Kelly Ryan

Carmen Wells commented on The Telegraph's Facebook page about her stay at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital after seeing Eileen's story.

Ms Wells was hospitalised from July 16-26 due to liver failure.

"It's a long-running joke in the hospital about how bad the food is - the doctors were having a laugh when they came around, checking what I'd ordered," Ms Wells said.

"The lasagne tasted like cardboard and was inedible. My family brought food and I walked down to the cafe.

"I received a courtesy call after being discharged and complained about the food. They just said 'everybody complains about the food'.

"I just can't believe this is the quality of food being served when the government can afford to spend $2b on stadiums in Sydney."

The meal Eileen was served at Campbelltown Hospital. Picture: Supplied

Kelly Ryan said she had a bad experience at Liverpool Hospital during a 2017 stay.

"It was tuna sauce over pasta with boiled potato balls and something else and the smell was disgusting," Ms Ryan said.

"(They have) a Subway store so I went downstairs with my mother.

"I am a diabetic so pasta and potato is something I rarely eat but it looked like vomit on my plate.

"My grandmother used to work in the kitchen of Campbelltown Hospital and when I had children she told me to order sandwiches as at least they were edible."

Meanwhile, a poll run by The Telegraph with a picture of Eileen's food asked readers to try and identify the meat the hospital dished up to her: Chicken or pork?

Up to 77 per cent of readers guessed the meat was pork … It was chicken.

Sal Lavallee said her condition deteriorated in hospital because she couldn’t stomach the food. Picture: Facebook